Buds, Blossoms, and Blooms

Transcription

1 BREAKFAST STOCK S E CLUB Q U O IPREMIUM A C L U BCHALLENGE #88 Buds, Blossoms, and Blooms By Jessica Lia Spring is back again with her blossom of brilliant hues, so it s time to discuss a theme that s very dear to my heart (and my stock photo portfolio)... flowers! This time of year is the perfect opportunity to add images that include botanical elements to your stock photo portfolios. And although flowers have always been a popular subject, nowadays designers are incorporating floral themes in their design projects with a newfound love. something floral to express love, happiness, motivation, or pretty much every imaginable emotion. We are constantly influenced by the seasons and the weather, which is another reason why flowers are inseparable from our existence. As a portrait photographer, I love to keep some flowers handy to highlight the expression and emotion of my subject. This theme is quite broad and can be discussed from many perspectives, but for this Challenge I would like to focus on taking beautiful floral photos and flower portraits that go beyond ordinary pretty photos. The goal is to create images that connect viewers more intimately to a subject. From architecture to portraiture to still life flowers can be used to evoke a sense of décor and beauty in any genre of photography so let s jump in! Just imagine scrolling through Facebook or Instagram without seeing those cute little succulent plants. They re all over the place! After a long winter, it s safe to say that we all are craving

2 Floral Photos as Stock Flower and floralthemed photos are used in all kinds of articles, magazines, and advertisements both in print and on the web. If you learn to use your imagination and break away from the overdone type of cliché flower shots, floral-themed photos can become some of your best-selling stock images. This is one of my favorite photos that I ve taken. I was out for a morning walk with my camera and I saw my neighbor picking up some fallen flowers from the walkway. Interestingly, she was wearing a dress with a floral pattern as well. I smiled at her, slowly got down on my knees, and took some shots. I was lucky because she didn t mind me photographing her at all. For me, this shot depicts spring beautifully. The anonymity helps viewers retrace their own memories of picking flowers. Here s another example below. A friend of mine was taking photos of her houseplants and I captured this in a way that shows the process. This is a relatable moment with many uses for designers. The simple white background helps to isolate the flowers and viewers are drawn toward the curve and bright colors within the composition. Remember, simple images do great as stock, so don t feel you need to do anything overly elaborate to pull off some winning floral images. 2 Stock Photo Roadmap #88

3 Where to Find Floral Images Visit local greenhouses, flower shops, and markets to figure out where to find the best selection. If you are planning to shoot with a model, you could take her/him to a flower shop and shoot a few images while purchasing and browsing flowers. This is great material for stock photos, I can assure you. Look for parks, botanical gardens, and nature centers near you where you can shoot a variety of flowers and plants. Don t be afraid to inquire at your local greenhouse about the possibility of arranging a photo shoot. You might even be able to work out a trade for images. Spring also brings flower festivals to many areas. Check your local listings to see if there are events happening in your area that might be photo-worthy. Read a book or browse the web to learn more about wildflowers and gardening if you are curious about the topic. I ve noticed that people who love gardening often take better floral photos than the average photographer. I believe this is because they personally know the plants and have a connection with their subjects. There s no doubt that learning a bit about your subjects can help you capture them in a more meaningful way. Stock Photo Roadmap #88 3

4 Shooting Tips Let s jump into how to create extraordinary flower photos that will stand out to stock photo buyers. Here are some things to keep in mind as you re working with your floral subjects. Bring intimacy Take a little time to observe and scout your scene, engaging in your surroundings before starting to shoot. Sometimes, through this process, you ll find photo opportunities that tell a unique story by highlighting intimate details. I love how this photo below shows the entire scene while bringing focus to such beautiful, small details. This photo is all about vivid color, delicate texture, and a very intentionally placed point of focus. It is best to analyze your surroundings and work your composition, trying many angles and perspectives. Be patient. Putting thought into the framing and key elements can be really effective and can give better results. Experiment with different backgrounds To create a unique composition with flowers or other plants, treat it as an individual, rather than an object. Use a seamless paper background to stage the perfect floral photo. Simple white backgrounds or backgrounds that contrast with the color of the subject can make a bold impression. In the photo below, the photographer chose to offset the green plant with a pink background. Notice how colors opposite each other on the color wheel really pop. This is an intentional use of color that creates a fun photo with a lot of energy. 4 Stock Photo Roadmap #88

5 For this more controlled approach, it works best to think through every element of the frame including the light, background, props, and color scheme to create the exact look and feeling you re going for. In the photo to the right, the photographer chose a neutral color palette, leaving plenty of copy space that a designer could use to overlay text. To create this look, all you need is a blank wall or some white paper and natural window light. Depth of Field This term refers to the range of sharpness from front to back in your photo. A shallow depth of field can be used to isolate your subject or one particular part of your subject, such as in the example below. To get this effect, try opening up your aperture as wide as it will go. Remember, the lower your f-stop number, the larger the aperture opening is. Depending on your lens, this may be f/2.8, f/4, etc. Play with different apertures to get the perfect balance of sharpness and blur. When photographing flowers, learning to control your depth of field is enormously important. Decide if you are aiming for a soft blur (use large apertures such as f/2.8), or if you prefer everything to be sharp throughout your scene (use small apertures such as f/11). If you re unfamiliar with adjusting your aperture, put your camera in Aperture Priority mode and try shooting the same subject with a range of apertures to become more confident. You ll see that as you adjust your aperture, you ll change the depth of field. Stock Photo Roadmap #88 5

6 Point of Focus It s also very important to learn to control your point of focus because whatever is sharp in your photo is where the viewer's eye will go. This is easiest if you put your camera into Single Shot focus mode with a single autofocus point. You ll need to go into your camera menu to do this. By selecting a single autofocus point, you can be very particular about where your sharpest point of focus will be. Depth of field will radiate from this point. Alternatively, put your lens into Manual Focus mode and turn the focusing ring to set the focus yourself. Either way, the idea is that you want to have control over what is sharp in your photo. Play with floral patterns Of course, you don t have to photograph flowers for this Challenge theme. Instead, you could get some fabric from a craft shop or floral printed curtains from a thrift store and use them as a backdrop for your next shoot. Your sense of enthusiasm and willingness to play with the floral theme can create something unique and beautiful. Multiple exposures Another popular theme these days is multiple exposure portraits with flowers or leaves. The results from experimenting with this technique can be stunning. It helps to start with a concept in mind, so the whole composition comes alive with meaning. Most DSLRs have in-camera double/ multiple exposure options but you can also construct them in Photoshop. Give it some time to get the perfect one the end result will be fun, that s for sure! 6 Stock Photo Roadmap #88

7 Say it with flowers Adding floral elements to your image can really help your photo stand out and grab your viewer s attention. If you are into creative visualization, try using flowers to create striking compositions, words, or framing such as in the examples below. Stock Photo Roadmap #88 7

8 Be conceptual Floral images can be used to communicate a range of concepts, which means they are particularly well-suited for stock photography, which is all about communicating relatable concepts, feelings, and ideas to the viewer. For example, the image here on the right could be used to illustrate the ideas of persistence and overcoming obstacles. This next image on the right could be used to symbolize heartbreak and struggle: Include people As always, keep in mind that photos with people in them are in great demand as stock. Floral elements and people can be a great combination! 8 Stock Photo Roadmap #88

9 Light for Floral Images The type of light you choose to capture in your floral images will go a long way toward creating a particular mood or feeling. High-contrast lighting with strong highlights and shadows creates a more dramatic effect and intensifies the color of your subject. If you re going for a more muted, quiet feeling, choose soft, even light. Overcast days, the shade of a tree, or diffusing window light with a white curtain are a few ways you can get this effect. If you combine the subject and light in the right way, your shot can turn out to be very dreamy. I love shooting pastelcolored flowers with diffused light to make the scene more intimate. Equipment for Floral Shots: Macro Lens: For close-up shots it s best to use a dedicated macro lens or extension tube to get a more detailed photo. However, if you don t have either of these tools, just try and get as close as possible with the lens that you do have. Reflector: Use a reflector or fill light to bounce light into the shadowed areas of your subject. Polarizing Filter: A circular polarizing filter that screws onto the front of your lens is essential for cutting glare on flower petals and plant leaves. Reducing glare will help the color to really pop and be more vibrant. Tripod: For close-up details or still life photography using a tripod is the best way to ensure sharp images. Stock Photo Roadmap #88 9

10 Final Thoughts Once you start looking for botanical subjects, you ll likely see photo opportunities everywhere. Invest some time thinking about your subject and concept. If you are a food or fashion photographer, experiment with adding floral or botanical elements in your regular set-up. Shooting still life subjects can teach you to be more intentional about your light and framing. Work the shot to bring out your unique story. Another option is to highlight the changing season in your work while exploring your local area. Designers are always looking for something new in every season. For inspiration on this theme you can check out more of my favorite floral shots here: Keywording for Floral Shots Keyword your photos by first including the subject, location, details, and theme of the photo. If you know the common and scientific names for the plants in your image, be sure to include them. For this particular shot, appropriate keywords would be: beautiful beautify biology blue bone botanical cranium creepy crown dark dead death decorated dried dry evil face fear floral flower gothic Halloween head headdress horror nature night of the death nobody object old scary skeleton skull spooky still life texture Have fun exploring with your camera! 10 Stock Photo Roadmap #88